Ballot-box



(No Model.) l

A. L. RING() 8v A. PETTIBONE.

BALLOT BOX.

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i Zar/2545 iINiTED STATES PATENT rricn4a ALVIN L. BINGO AND AMOS PETTIBONE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BALLOT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,512, dated June 17, 1884,

Application filed August 3D, 1883.

To w55 whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALVIN L. RINGO and Amos In'r'rrBoN'n, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State oi" Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ballot- Boxes, of which the following is a specification, to wit:

This invention relates to an improvement in ballot-boxes; audit consists of alight frame having a hinged cover provided with three locks,and aglass globe or jar formed with a slot in its upper end and its lower end open, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully de scribed.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which our invention appertains to make and use the same, we will now proceed to describe its construction, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of our device; Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section of the same,- and Fig. 3 is a modified form of the device.

A represents a light frame, piovidedwith a hinged cover, A, which is secured, when closed, by three locks, a a a, each different from the others, and the keys of which are intended to be carried by three separate persons, so that no one person may be able to gain access to ythe contents. The bottom of the frame A is formed with acircular groove, a', in which sets the lower open end of a glass cylinder or jar, B, having its upper end closed and formed or provided with a slot, b, for the insertion of the ballots. This cylinder is provided around its lower edge with a rubber band or gasket, b, which acts as a cushion to prevent the breaking of the glass should it be dropped into place. The cover A is formed with openings a, through which the cylinder and its contents may be seen, and also with a slot, a3, for the passage of the ballots. In order to insure the slotsa3 and b registering, the cover is on its under side, at the slot a3, provided with a small plate of metal, c, the center of which is struck out, the bent edges c forming flanges, which enter the slot b in the jar when the cover is closed, and prevent any displacement o1` the jar, as well as guiding the ballots in their passage,

(No model.)

When this device is used in voting, the ballots may always be seen from the sides and top, and the several keys being carried by different persons, the Abox cannot be opened unless all are present.

It is' evident that the frame may be made of wood, metal, or any suitable material, andthe receptacle for the ballots may be constructed of glass, wood, papienmach, or other material, though glass is preferred. In Fig. l I have shown a square frame, A, around the jar; but in Fig. 3 the frame is represented as filled in around the jar, and the cover formed Without openings, as this may sometimes be desirable.

It' desired, the cover may have four locks in place of three and be entirely lifted off, instead oi" being hinged.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-` l. The combination, with the main frame provided with a hinged and locked cover and grooved in its upper bottom surface, of a vessel having its top provided with a slot, and having its lower end open and resting in the groove, substantiallyT as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A ballot-box consisting, essentially, of a frame inclosing a receptacle having an open bottoni and a closed top formed with a slot, in combination with a cover secured, when closed, by two or more looks, each having a different key, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In a ballot-box, the frame A, formed with groove ain its bottom, and having cover A', secured by two or more different locks having different keys, and provided with slot ci, having ilanged plate c c', in combination with the glass vessel B, having closed and slotted top and an open bottom, provided with a rubber gasket, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ALVIN L. BINGO. AMOS PETTIBONE. Vitnesses:

J. W. WARD, C. Sronnn Hrrcnoocn. 

